The Grace Narrative: Recent Episodes
Lisa Edinger
This podcast is created to inspire, encourage and empower you in life's journey. It is based on the belief that God created you in His image to live an abundant life, but not because you worked hard enough to earn it. You can offer yourself to Him for healing and wholeness in mind, body, and spirit, and yet still be flawed and imperfect as a human being. This is how we embrace God's way in the everyday.
The turning of a new year begs for reflection. As we reflect, it informs what we can expect as we look to the future. It’s actually in the reflection that the learning happens. It’s not enough to just go through stuff. We have to process it - whether it’s good or bad or just normal. Looking at our experiences of the past year through the lens of God’s grace is the best place to start as we set our expectations and cast our vision for the new year. Join me today as we do just that.
We've entered the last month of summer! I'm always amazed at how fast those weeks seem to fly by. As a wrap up to summer, I wanted to do one or two episodes inspired by some songs from my summer playlist. I’m really excited about this actually! One of the ways truth gets really embedded in me is when I make connections between God’s Word, music, and how I see that theme playing out in my real life. Today I’m going to tell you about what has encouraged me in my present season, and I truly hope it encourages you as well!
It’s been about a year since the first time I did a grace notes episode, so I’m really excited to share a new edition for this summer. In case you’ve forgotten or you’re new around here, a grace notes episode is my version of answering the question, “What’s saving your life right now?” It’s just naming some blessings whether serious or silly that enrich my life, like grace notes embellish music. So I’ve just picked out a few simple things I’m enjoying in the present, that might give you ideas for a refreshing experience or even just remind you to pause and reflect with joy on your own grace notes right now.
Happy Independence Day! What a privilege to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave, aka the USA. As much of a blessing as that is, greater still is the one knowing that our freedom in Christ is secure. This episode seemed like the perfect opportunity to express gratitude for the reality of both of these freedoms in our lives.
Scripture references for today's episode are as follows:
John 8:36, Galatians 5:13, Psalm 68:6, Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 9:8 and Psalm 95:1.
A lesser known but powerful account in scripture has been such an encouragement to me lately to pursue wisdom and to take courage and find boldness in the Lord and obey as He gives me vision in my calling. I love this story! The implication I find is that by the grace of God, He uses the circumstances, history, talents, abilities and suffering in our lives to gift us with wisdom. He wants us to ask him for it and has promised to grant it. There is great hope to be found as we pursue wisdom.
We think that we are only influenced by what we noticeably decide, but we also give permission to be influenced by what we default to. It’s amazing how subtle influences take over. It’s very easy to do in today’s culture with unlimited access to so many people and ideas. While I’d like to think that most of my influences come from sources that are aligned with my values, I’m discovering that there is a deeper level of intention I need if that’s going to be the case. It needs to be a process of conscious curation.
Despite our best efforts to avoid stress, it shows up anyway. I’m learning that as important as it is to be able to walk through it and deal with it without going under, it is equally as important to pause and process during and after - to recover and learn from it. I think one of the best questions we can ask at a time like this is, "What do we learn about God and his desire to form Christ in us?" In this episode, we'll talk about the truths we learn in a stressful season and the gift they bring when we take the time to reflect on the evidence of God's grace.
In this episode we are going to talk about following through to release damaging practices/habits/or thought patterns in order to see a positive growth in our lives. If you listened to Ep.128 you know that we discussed the first 2 steps of the Keep and Release strategy as a way to focus our new year energy into sustainable change. Today we are talking about step 3 in this process, so let’s dive right in!
In this season when we lean into both reflection and forward thinking, I think it’s important to not get too complicated and overwhelm ourselves with "new year, new me" energy. You’ve learned some stuff these past 12 months that has already changed you for the better! Of course, we want to continue to make positive changes, but we also want that change to be SUSTAINABLE. Today we discuss the KEEP and RELEASE practice that I’ve found to be an uplifting, grace-filled approach that takes advantage of the new year energy without weighing me down with unrealistic goals and standards that will never last.
It brings me great joy to be able to share about grace, especially this time of year. Christmas is upon us! Lately, I’ve been challenged to really look at that FIRST Christmas with fresh eyes. It’s been interesting that my side hustle and my Advent study came together in a unique way to help me receive truth and I’m excited to share that truth with you in these next few minutes we have together.
I pray this Thanksgiving is a time for you to join in with purpose to the things Ps. 145 encourages us to do:
- Meditate on the wonders of God
- To declare His greatness in trust
- Remember His goodness and righteousness and share it with others
May the discipline of remembering help you embrace God’s way in the everyday.
“Father, we break ties with fake thanks and we choose gratitude as spiritual warfare. Give us eyes to see and mouths that speak life, praise, truth, and grace.” -Jess Connolly
I think the reason I love that prayer so much is that I believe praise for the character of God and recognition of his truth, can be POWERFUL in overcoming the hopelessness and defeat that the devil tries to use to overwhelm our souls. When I reflect on the blessings from the hand of God in the life I’m living, I noticed an undeniable fact that is like a continuous thread running through every single part - and that is that He is a God of mercy and love- He always has been and always will be. Reflect and rejoice with me in the truth of Ps. 118 "His love never quits".
This is the rest of my conversation with my friend and artist Terri Shown. I’m glad to hear that so many of you enjoyed the first part in Ep. 123! Today is the icing on the cake as we finish exploring this specific kind of renewal. We talk about different creative types and there are more stories and more authentic examples of how each one of us is called to create. You’re gonna love it so let’s jump right in!
Today is the third installment inspired by Rhythms of Renewal by Rebekah Lyons and I’m happy to introduce you to my friend Terri Shown as we discuss creativity as a form of renewal. You will enjoy hearing about her experiences, her stories and her heart for sharing her creativity. Bonus note: we basically lost track of time and talked so much this is going to be a two part episode. (I could not bring myself to edit out that much content- it’s just so good!) Thanks for joining in today to hear my conversation with my friend, the talented Terri Shown.
There is no way to overemphasize the importance of connection in our lives! My friend and counselor Kayla Little joins me in this episode of our current series based on Rebekah Lyon's book Rhythms of Renewal with some wise and practical ways of strengthening our relationship with others in order to "spur one another on" and "bear one another's burdens".
I’ve been looking forward to this discussion for a long time! I get to talk with my dear friend Heather Walton in this episode which is always a treat. We talk about SO MANY things- from what a restful quiet time looks like, to tech detox, our attitude about Sabbath, and even calming the chaos that always happens when the kids get home from school! It’s a bit longer than normal - I mean, it's a strategy episode so we get nitty gritty with the details - and I just love it! One of my favorite things is at the end where Heather talks about the mission of the retreat center she is one of the founders and directors of and how to go about scheduling a time away for intentional rest.
Today’s episode is going to lay the foundation for our series on Rhythms of Renewal. This is a topic I’m passionate about because it has been such a means of grace in my own life. What is the scriptural basis for the rhythms of rest, restore, connect, and create and why are they so important? Those are the questions we’ll answer today.
We are squeezing as much as we can out of summer while simultaneously preparing for fall. What an interesting mix! As we prepare to talk about how to rest, restore, connect and create in future episodes, I think it's important to evaluate our daily routines to see where we might need to make room for or adjust our habits that put us in a position to receive renewal. I hope and pray this reair of Finding the Rhythm of Your Season sets the stage for you to do just that as we embrace God's way in the everyday.
In this episode, I’m going to share about some little gifts of grace that have made recent months more enjoyable in everyday living! It’s like answering the question “What’s saving my life right now?” I’ve said this before and I’ll say it many more times I’m sure…it’s in the reflecting that we actually learn from our experiences. These are the things that came to mind as I was reflecting. Some are spiritual, and some aren’t- I have a practical one, a physical/spiritual one, and kind of a silly one- but all of them I consider blessings. Like grace notes in my life.
Remember Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." If we are going to discern our season, I think we should know what spiritual fall, winter, spring and summer look like, right? By describing physical seasons we can draw some pretty enlightening parallels that help us know our spiritual season. In this episode, we are going to focus on how to recognize winter and it's purpose in our growth. Even if you’ve heard teaching on this before, keep listening because the Holy Spirit is always in the business of revealing more truth as we focus on Him.
Today we are going to dive into how viewing our spiritual growth as a cycle offers a much better understanding with deeper trust and peace than having only a conventional linear view of our lives. That’s a lot of words- maybe a little philosophical sounding, but rest assured that we are going to do what we always do. We are going to identify a common challenge, share real life examples of how it’s part of our narratives, and of course, discover the role that grace plays as we explore what God’s Word has to say about living in the tension of this challenge.
I truly hope you are reminded today of the power of connected relationships- this gift the Lord has given us to bond with our people. The next time a loved one comes to talk to you, I hope this practice of listening with your face is something you find helpful and strengthening in your relationship. And spiritually, I hope that you find a new level of intimacy with God as you seek his face, knowing his face is already focused on you! He welcomes you and wants to show himself to you. Listening with your face is another chance to embrace God’s way in the everyday.
Margins are essential for anyone desiring wholeness and freedom from "hurry sickness". I don't believe we were created to live in a constant state of overwhelm that crowds our spirit. Margins give us space to breathe and freely experience the peace and joy we all crave. Learning how to create margins has been a life-changing experience that the Lord in his grace continues to teach me about. I hope you'll be encouraged today to take steps in implementing margins. I'm cheering you on!
Why am I talking about prepping for what summer entails on The Grace Narrative? It’s because even though different seasons may call for different rhythms, our focus needs to stay true to what God is calling us to. The focus He put on my heart at the beginning of 2023 was presence…that means being present in the moment with the people around me and being more aware and living in the power of the presence of the Lord. As the boys are telling me all of the things they have going on this summer, it came to me that if I want to stay present and appreciate my people, and savor this time, I might need to be a little more proactive in setting our family up for a successful summer. Listen in for some inspiration as we prep for summer together!
The thing about expectations is that when they are not met, it creates stress. We have choices in how to react when that happens. We can stubbornly hold onto the unmet expectations, deny reality, and harbor resentment which leads to exhaustion, negative attitudes, and overall defeat- in other words, burnout...or we can discard unmet expectations, accept reality, and reframe how to move forward based on what is most important.
Operating under high demands while feeling low control in our work is a huge stressor that ruins our motivation, exhausts us, and breeds negativity, so we have to address how to look realistically at the demands placed on us and get real about what is actually in our control. It makes a huge difference in finding answers in the midst of burnout. In this part 2 episode we are going to learn how asking and answering these 2 questions can help us: 1) "What really matters?" and 2) "What would this look like if it was easy?"
This is the first installment of a new series we are starting related to burnout. One of the biggest challenges for people like you and me, goal-oriented achievers that pour everything into what we do, is burning out. There are several different ways of thinking and acting that lead to this state, hence the series! I plan for these to be on the shorter side, but no less impactful because we’re going to be very focused on our topics, the aim being to answer these questions: How can we overcome burnout? Where do we find grace in dealing with it? That’s what we are going to talk about today, specifically as it relates to relationships in our work.
Serving the Seder meal helps our family focus on Easter in a special way. After keeping this tradition for several years now, I look forward to it so very much becauseit keeps us present in the meaning and power of Holy Week. As you listen, I hope you are drawn to remembering and celebrating Easter in the Lord's presence as you embrace God's way in the everday.
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom (Psalm 145:3, NIV). This episode is short and sweet... and hopefully will serve as a reminder for you to believe that the infinite God of grace wants to work beyond your imagination right now. It is up to us to give Him the room to do so in our hearts- to let Him be bigger!
One of the greatest joys in life is when you find your lane and run your own race. Just recently I was inspired by one of my friends because she is so confident and happy in doing her thing that brings her joy while at the same time using her gift to minister to my family and I’m looking forward to telling you about that. My goal for today is to offer an encouraging reminder that running your race is not only a way that God shows his favor to you but is also a way to enrich the lives of others as you give the gift of grace.
You may have heard me say this before- I am not interested in a faith that has no impact on my everyday life. I am not interested in Lent as another thing to do or some sort of legalistic requirement made up by man to prove something to God. But if it is a spiritual discipline that the Holy Spirit can work through to draw me closer to Him and to sense His presence at work, then I’m all in! And that’s what I believe it can be. So with that thought in mind, let me tell you what I feel called to during Lent this year.
As I was collecting my thoughts on this topic, I realized that the Lent discussion needs to be a two- parter. What I want to do today is to put the season of Lent into a perspective that honors its purpose by understanding its origins, and then we can start answering the question about why observing Lent is so valuable as we grow in grace.
Have you ever thought about how many words there are in the English language that are based on grace? There are SO MANY! It’s proof of our inner longing for grace as human beings and recognition of how important it is. The references that permeate our normal vocabulary are so familiar, we kind of take it for granted. But whether we realize it or not, God is in the business of showing us His grace... even through unexpected people and in surprising places. Today I’d like to share with you a story of how that has happened recently to me and served as a reminder once again of God’s unlimited resources in extending grace to us.
"Taking Jesus into the room" is an intentional recognition and statement of the truth that Jesus is WITH ME in the very basic but real moments that make up the whole of my life. It is quickly becoming an assurance and a source of relying on Him in a much deeper and profound way for me. Bringing my awareness around to the reality of the constant nature of the Lord’s presence is how I want to live. Join me as we discuss how this practice works in our everyday ordinary lives.
The fact that we will experience a heavy heart in this journey is an inevitable part of life. We try our best to guard against this and arrange our circumstances to avoid feeling this way, but we all know life isn’t perfect. We live in a fallen world damaged by sin. Even if a heavy heart is not your reality in the present moment, I invite you to listen all the way through to the end of this episode because there will come a time when heaviness and disappointment will overwhelm you or a family member or friend. I hope that when you need it, you can listen again and find help as you preach the truth to yourself or maybe give you some words of encouragement to minister to those that you care about. Join me today as we answer the question, "How do we respond in a constructive way when we have a heart that is heavy with sadness or disappointment?"
Are you down about not measuring up to your own standards? What about being discouraged that your goals remain unmet? As you listen to today's repair episode, I hope you'll take to heart the message that "ideal you" is not the most valuable version of yourself.
Today we celebrate the 100th episode of The Grace Narrative by hosting with a guest! My dear friend Heather Walton shares her insight on the meaning of grace. This is a thought-provoking and inspiring conversation about how God's grace is a constant throughout our journeys. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
“I am a grace representative. I choose to abide in Christ, live in joy and share the love of Jesus at every opportunity.” My calling is to represent Him and I can’t do that unless I am abiding in Him…relying on His presence. If joy is found in His presence, like His word says, then it just makes sense that I would want to notice Him with me. It’s not on me to produce or manufacture His presence. My role is to be aware of His presence.
Since we’ve just finished the holiday season and giving and receiving gifts have been on our brains maybe I better clarify- we’re going to be talking about P-R-E-S-E-N-C-E, presence; not the things we open on Christmas morning! There are many aspects to this idea of presence and so we’re going to delve into that today and why it’s a priority and what positive results there are when we live with presence.
The idea of heart posture is not new to me, but its impact increases the more I value it. Just as we should be careful in the way we hold, carry and position our physical bodies for our health, our heart posture has an incredible impact on our spiritual formation. In this episode we will be discussing the difference between a default posture and an intentional posture that prepares us for God's vision for our lives.
Holy Leisure is the practice of "doing nothing for God's sake". Today we'll learn about this practice and how it leads us to trust and rest. It starts with adopting these thought patterns: life is a gift; we are a gift; we did not create ourselves or earn God’s love and forgiveness; we did not merit new life in Christ; and our future life in glory is not something we earn. Holy leisure allows us to intentionally live into that knowledge by our actions. Then our minds, bodies and spirits can experience the benefits of this particular gift of rest that God freely gives us and wants us to enjoy.
Today’s episode focuses on what I call the reminder that never gets old, because no matter how long you’ve been a Christ follower, the truth of God’s love is something we need to constantly live in and be assured of. We learn to trust more when we are reminded of His unconditional love. Whether you are doubting your worthiness as God’s child today or you’re feeling confident as God’s child today, I promise this discussion will encourage and inspire you.
Today we begin a series that I believe will encourage us to see ourselves more as God sees us. We will be reading excerpts from "The Good and Beautiful You" by James Bryan Smith. The following quote from Smith gives an overview of the subject of this episode: "Seeing our bodies- our good and beautiful bodies- as sacred instruments is essential if we are to live a vibrant life and have wellness in our embodied soul."
“Home is that sacred space-external or internal-where we don’t have to be afraid; where we are confident of hospitality and love.” That is a quote by Brennan Manning is one that I resonate with so very much. Today we are going to explore how grace meets us in seeing our external and internal homes as sacred places where we find belonging.
Savoring is a practice for connecting with God as a Christ follower. Using our senses as encouraged in Psalm 34:8, can be a powerful act of celebration and gratitude that enriches our lives. Be it in a season that we planned for, or in a season that is unexpectedly hard, we can savor in any season. We can sense God’s provision and presence as we are fully present in surrendered worship. Join me as we learn how to make savoring a daily rhythm.
Today’s episode is going to be a reminder of the big picture promise that brings strength and hope to the life of a Christ follower. We all experience times characterized by a particular circumstance or feature- that’s the definition of season. Our tendency is to view that season as the end all-be all. But that’s not actually God’s view. While He is concerned with the details of our lives, He has an overarching covenant that houses all of our seasons. Let's explore this big umbrella that shelters everything else.
What do you think about that title? I’m wondering if today might be the first time you’ve ever thought of celebration and discipline going together in the same sentence! In this episode we’re going to delve into this idea and discover that celebration is actually a spiritual discipline that grace makes possible to enrich our lives and draw us closer to Jesus.
We’ve talked before on the podcast about the scriptural basis of hope in the life of a Christ follower. But as is with so many things, there can be a gap between having knowledge of it and the reality of it in our actual lives. We’re going to talk about why that is and how we go about sincerely believing that having hope is always in our best interest for joyful living.
Let’s just be honest. At some time or another we’ve all felt a pull to take a plunge into something new, but we’ve held back. We’ve all procrastinated. I want to share a little pep talk with you and encourage you to take advantage of the energy of this season and do the thing you’ve been putting off.
Today I get to share a reair episode with you - Walking Through Overwhelm. We are all familiar with the feeling of being overwhelmed. Maybe you’re in a place right now where you are in over your head. This episode reminds us that it's not about denying that you are overwhelmed or that there's some magical place where we just deal with it and get over it once and for all, but it’s about finding the strength and encouragement to walk through it- and the incredible gifts of the Spirit that become ours in that process.
Here we are in August! How are you? I hope you’ve been able to enjoy the rhythm of this summer. As we prepare to bring summer to a close, I think it’s important to consider what worked and what didn’t work as a way to help us take the next step into the future. Today we reflect on that as a way to gain wisdom.
Every once in a while, I like to drop a “best of” episode. The episode chosen for today is “Balance vs. Wholeness” from our series on paradigm shifts. It could be really helpful in what is sometimes a topsy-turvy transition time as we shift from summer to fall. I hope you are encouraged and learn to accept grace in a new way as you listen!
How much more joy would you experience if you could release the worries in your life? I’m not talking about ridding yourself of trials. I’m talking about the habit of endlessly ruminating on concerns and trying to control outcomes with your own means. It’s a trap I fall into and I bet you do, too. Today we are going to talk about developing a rhythm of releasing worry and what is ours as a result of that rhythm in our daily living.
Moving from one stage of life to the next isn’t the only time we experience transitions. Things change. All of the time! That is very important to acknowledge. And I’m going to give you a shot of grace right now with this next statement: Are you ready? Change is quick. Transition is slow. Isn’t that powerful. The grace in that truth ministers to me so much. We talk about what living in that grace looks like in today’s episode.
Back to school time has us thinking about the teachers and students in our lives. Prayer is the most important preparation we can offer them. But we are all scholars in pursuit of the Lord. Even if you’ve been following the Lord for decades, He still has things He wants to teach you. I hope you’ll open up to being a learner, to putting greater trust in Him, and accepting the grace He offers as you grow in His image.
We’ve in a series right now of exploring the liturgies found in “Every Moment Holy” by Douglas McKelvey. Today’s liturgy is a great follow up to the time we spent on stewardship in the last episode. The prayer shared in this episode called “A Liturgy Before Shopping” is a little longer than the others, so I’m going to let the prayer speak for itself. And it surely will.
I’ve decided to make July the month where I value the small moments- the daily tasks- and recognize the sacredness of them. Reading “Every Moment Holy” by Douglas McKelvey has been an inspiration for me to that end.
In this episode, we are going to be focusing on the stewardship of tasks-particularly as it relates to domestic tasks. I’ve been leaning into having a greater Biblical understanding of stewardship in my whole life, so I want to unpack that a bit and share it with you.
The average person living today has more access to greater amounts of information than ever before in the history of the world. It truly is a flood of information. At times, that’s an advantage. But often there’s tension and overwhelm, too - sometimes even outweighing the advantages. I think it's because were not created to actually bear the burden of all of this information. In this episode, I’ll be sharing a prayer called, “A Liturgy for Those Flooded by Too Much Information” from Every Moment Holy (Vol. 1) by Douglas McKelvey in hopes that it will remind you that grace is available to turn the mundane and sometimes overwhelming grind into sacred moments.
In John chapter 15, Jesus explains some of the beautiful realities of the Christ follower - asking for and receiving from the Father, being named as Jesus’ friends rather than His servants, along with joy, abiding, and bearing fruit. But there is another reality He talks about in that chapter that isn't as attractive to most of us, and that is pruning. No one relishes the thought of being cut! The Lord has been working on me to deepen my understanding of pruning. In this episode, we talk about why pruning can be included in the list of beautiful realities as we abide and grow in Christ.
Today we are going to talk about what I would classify as a huge reframe that starts with your relationship with yourself and it ripples out into your relationships with others. It’s so big I would categorize it as a paradigm shift. We are going to close out this summer series on refreshing reframes in this episode by discussing how to “try softer” as we deal with our inner critic.
Specifically today we are going to talk about our focus as we plan how we’ll spend these next few months with those closest to us. “This doesn’t have to be memorable, it just needs to matter.” That mindset shift frees me to enjoy connecting with my people without the pressure to go big or go home when I make plans. It’s not about counting the days when great memories were made; it's about making the days count in how we love our people.
When we transition to different seasons, it can be really helpful for us to check our mindsets. I want to start a series that is based on that - going into some specific reframes for the summer. Not that reframing is only for the summer, but some of the topics we’re going to talk about come up naturally at this time of year and so getting in the right mindset to make the most of this season ahead of us is a good thing!
Don’t you just love that word- ABUNDANCE? It’s this idea of having plenty, of prospering, of thriving, basically- and who doesn’t want that?! I’ve been fascinated with this concept for a while now and while I still have questions and more to understand, I thought I’d use this example of how having a keyword can inspire a rhythm of staying connected to God’s Word throughout a typical day.
Staying connected to the Word brings hope. It's like fueling our spirit as we meditate on scripture. Today we discuss what meditation really means and specific ways we fill our thoughts throughout our day as we intentionally seek to keep hope alive.
I don’t know of any other time in my life when the concept of hope has meant as much to me as it does right now. Do you sense that too? I’m pretty sure that I’m not the only one. As Christ-followers we recognize that hope serves as a lifeline for our faith when we get discouraged. How do we keep hope alive in our everyday, ordinary, sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life? That’s what we are going to talk about today.
What if instead of trying to measure up, we reached for a greater measure of Jesus? That's where the fullness of joy comes from- the complete opposite of the DIY mentality. A greater measure of Jesus is what He blesses us with as we experience intimacy with Him.
We were created by God and for Him, so of course, IN Him is where we find belonging. The truth to be lived out here is that because of what Jesus did- sacrificing Himself by dying and rising again to conquer sin and death- I’m not only debt-free, but I am eternally worthy in God’s presence. "Put your hope in the Lord; for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is FULL REDEMPTION."
Last week we talked about embracing your season as being one thing that is within your power to do when everything around you seems out of control. There is another practice that is bringing me life in the midst of chaos lately. I mentioned it last time, but today we are going to delve into it- the idea of choosing to nurture.
How many times do I mourn the fact that things are out of my control, and miss the opportunity to make an impact in the simplest of ways of things I do control? Probably more often than I think and definitely more than I want. Have you heard that phrase, "Be where your feet are"? It’s something I have to keep reminding myself- Be where your feet are, Lisa! Live in the present moment! Embrace your season.
If you have a person of honesty in your life, it is such a blessing. I think it’s one of the highest compliments you can pay someone- when you recognize their honesty. And one of the hardest people to be honest with is yourself! In today's episode, we find that no meaningful and lasting change can happen unless we start with being honest about where we find ourselves right now. Thank God that His grace meets us there.
In Matthew 5 Jesus shares the beatitudes. He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Redemption starts with accepting the reality that we are not self-sufficient; we cannot make ourselves lovable- we are lovable because Jesus loves us.
This episode is the conclusion of the 2 part series on the renewal of our minds from a talk I gave last year. I’m going to be sharing how we reject false messages, reframe in truth, replace with praiseworthy thoughts, and repeat and live out a transformed life with some personal examples I think you’ll be able to relate to.
Today’s episode is taken from a previously recorded talk I did about what has been a life-changing truth for me. That truth is that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. Part 1 is focused on harmful patterns of thinking and the power found in bringing our thoughts to obedience in Christ.
The more I study the Sabbath, the more I learn about rest and the more I learn about the character of God. There can be overlap into the other areas of rest, and that makes sense- but it can also be confusing. Understanding and engaging in spiritual rest is foundational for the Christ-follower and that’s what we are going to talk about today.
Taking time to acknowledge and appreciate God’s kingdom work in you and recognizing what is now part of you and how you are living out your identity in Christ is GOOD. It brings joy and fills us with gratitude for God’s faithfulness over the past year. And it brings us to the bridge of crossing over into the new year. We are going to consciously and intentionally decide what we take with us moving forward and what we lay aside, whether that’s permanently or just for a season.
"Who you are becoming right here, even now, in the middle of the hard story… it’s shaping you into something beautiful and rare in this world. What was meant for your harm, this broken, hard, story.. God is redeeming even now by transforming you into a soft place for others to land.” - Mary Marantz
In considering the gifts we give to others in this season, I have been reminded that sacrifice is the ultimate gift. Whatever it costs us is going to be invested in God’s kingdom for him to do miraculous things. Let’s be clear- Jesus doesn’t NEED our gifts or sacrifice. He is not poor. He gives us the privilege of being part of His story of redemption by using our gifts…our sacrifices.
When the angel came to Mary he made it very clear that our Savior's name would be Jesus, for He would save His people from their sins. We are saved by the only name given to accomplish that, JESUS. We live in the power of that name by accepting His grace which results in our freedom. We use our freedom to serve, because THAT’S HOW FREEDOM GROWS. It’s not an external duty. It’s an internal expression of faith following the lead of the Holy Spirit.
I want to encourage you today to trust completely that God is with you, God is for you, and God is in You. You are shining His hope and bringing glory to the Light of the World as you embrace God’s way in the everyday.
In real-time, we are entering the holiday season. My absolute favorite time of year... maybe yours too. Thanksgiving is upon us where we put a special emphasis on gratitude. That opens the door for the Christmas season and the opportunity to engage more deeply in what we call Advent. I’ve found it takes intentional effort to experience a meaningful Advent so that the less important and peripheral things of the holiday season don't take over and blur my focus. Today's topic relates to the practice of Bible journaling and how that is impacting my celebration of the season.
Waiting is not something we intentionally pursue because it's so hard! But what if there is more to waiting than just patience building? What if waiting is about God providing what we didn’t realize we needed? That’s what we are going to unpack today!
What do we do when the unexpected stress overwhelms us? While it is grace that helps me recognize how I can do my part to make things better or reform and improve, grace also takes on the role of telling me, "You can let go of blame. You can be free of having to plan and execute the perfect scenario". Instead of calling ourselves a failure when we find ourselves in a place of overwhelm, grace allows us to experience tension AND have peace at the same time. It’s not an either/or. It’s both/and.
Another "best of" episode is in store today! I read a quote recently from Nicole Zasowski that gives a great reminder and intro for today's topic- "Every season is an opportunity to know God more fully. Therefore, every season carries an invitation to worship."
One of the ways I learned to function in the world was working for the approval of others. I looked for security and identity that way. Basically, I was creating FOR love, not FROM love. Through His grace God has shown me that is a a belief and a thought pattern that is opposed to His design...it is old, it doesn't fit with being a new creation of Christ. I need to renew my mind and be transformed and claim my identity in Him.
We have many demands on our mental energy. We want to be able to focus, be creative, solve problems, and make good decisions. God created our brains in such a way that they can actually keep developing even as our bodies age. Today we will discuss some rhythms and practices that build our mental muscles.
In my adult life, I’ve learned the value of looking back to reflect. Not in a way that keeps me mired in the past, but in a way that notices what worked and what didn’t work so that I can continue to learn and grow. Today’s episode is going to be an example of my contemplation of this summer as it comes to a close.
Today is the conclusion of this series on blessings. I felt like it would be incomplete if we didn’t address how to offer and receive the blessing concerning endings. I am convinced that we unintentionally do serious damage to ourselves when we try to eliminate or shortcut our way through the grieving process that comes with endings. However deep the loss or hurt, God’s presence and purpose are with us and go beyond the endings in ways greater than our suffering.
Whatever your job, the blessing I’ll be sharing today is applicable because it’s first and foremost about calling. As I share these words today, I hope you'll look at it through the lens that you can live out your calling WHATEVER your job or whatever your assignment. The core of it all is not about performance… It’s WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON that informs your actions.
Crossing a challenging threshold definitely requires courage. Receiving a blessing of courage means that we open ourselves up to discovery and compassion and leave behind the fear that keeps us trapped. Whatever your threshold is today, I hope that you can hold the same view as John O' Donohue who said "No threshold need be a threat, but rather an invitation and a promise."
I am excited to share with you from "To Bless the Space Between Us" by John O'Donohue. We are going to be learning how to offer blessings- those gracious invocations where the human heart pleads with the divine heart. It’s a gift that opens doors and can bring healing and transformation. It changes the atmosphere by evoking a sense of warmth and protection because no life is alone or unreachable. In this installment we will be learning the blessing of a new beginning.
I’ve decided to do a "best of" installment of The Grace Narrative. The most downloaded episode of the podcast to date has been “Don’t Despise the Small Steps”. Obviously that struck a chord with a lot of listeners, so today is a re-air of that episode. It was originally recorded in December of 2019, but the great thing is that when an episode is based on principles, it can be just as applicable whatever the season or stage in life- the specifics may change, but the strategy is still viable. I hope you'll enjoy this additional reminder to embrace progress over perfection.
We all know that rest is important. But if we don’t have a mindset that supports what we know is true, we will continue to fight and struggle to give rest it’s proper due as part of our reality. When we view rest as something we have to earn, it leads to some dangerous habits. So today, I want to talk about having a mindset where rest is actually the catalyst for fulfilling our purpose instead of a reward because we got our to-do list done or we worked hard enough to “deserve it”.
In this final installment of the paradigm shift series, we will focus on changing our mindset from time management to energy management. The following quote is a great summary of this episode: "Every one of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors has an energy consequence, for better or for worse. The ultimate measure of our lives is not how much time we spend on the planet, but rather how much energy we invest in the time that we have. The number of hours in a day is fixed, but the quantity and quality of energy available to us is not. It is our most precious resource." -Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz
Usually on the show I talk about life experiences where I can look back and see the lesson learned, the victory that was won, or the new practice that has come about through God’s gracious intervention. But today I want to share from the messy middle of something where the breakthrough hasn’t happened yet and explore the role of grace in meeting me in this place of disappointment and discouragement before the miracle.
All over we see posts, slogans, books, articles telling us that the best life is a balanced life. But for me, the balanced life target is kind of like the perfection target...I can’t ever hit it, and so there’s been a lot of self-condemnation around it. I want to share what I think is a much more freeing, realistic, and grace-filled approach in accounting for how and where we invest our time and energy and that’s through the lens of wholeness.
Although multitasking has been lauded as a highly desirable skill, living that as a way of life has had devastating side effects that have taken me further away from what I value and hope to achieve. In this episode, we dive into the paradigm shift of "the one thing" mentality instead of multitasking and explore the clarifying question that leads to traction in moving us closer to what we have decided is the most important.
A paradigm shift is a radical change of personal perspective. It’s like a light switch being turned on in our souls and flooding us with brightness when understanding dawns in a new way in our lives! This episode is an introduction to a series I want to do on some paradigm shifts that have had a serious impact in my own grace narrative.
Today's episode focuses on becoming more aware of our strongest character traits called signature strengths. By embracing what God has put inside us and developing these traits we can not only expect to fulfill our purpose, but also experience joy as we move toward our potential while we intentionally exercise our signature strengths.
In this episode, we discuss having compassion for someone that can be very challenging at times, but that person needs your compassion to heal. And that person is you. We’re going to talk about why and how we can show compassion to ourselves because in doing so, we are cultivating wholeness and participating in abundant living.
Today's episode is the conclusion of a talk recorded last year when I shared about an especially challenging time for our family, so if you missed Part 1 last week, you’ll want to go back and listen to Episode 36 first. If you did listen to it, you’re all caught up. We’ll pick up where we left off. So, without further ado, here’s the rest of the story!
This episode is Part 1 of a talk I did for my church last year. You'll hear some of my family’s story that I don’t share a lot, but I felt led to speak on what happens when we let our expectations become idols. I hope you will enjoy being introduced to my family and relate to some of the challenges we have faced in our journey. Today will end in the middle of the story, but next week, you'll hear the conclusion of faith over my fears!
Reflecting on progress is encouraging and empowering. Sometimes it looks like a completed goal and I can celebrate the finish. More often than not, I am thinking about the baby steps I am taking toward that goal. Guess what? Small steps get celebrated, too!
As Christ followers we are encouraged to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. When you think about how mentally weighed down we can become and how negative our thoughts can be, it makes sense that the renewal of our minds is very important. Today we are going to talk specifics about the process itself.
One of the most important steps in making the greatest impact in a piece of creative work is successful editing. Taking out anything that distracts from the impact of the piece is essential. In this episode, we are going to talk about that truth as it relates to our lives and our calling and trusting God with His power to edit.
Do you have an ideal version of yourself? Honestly, I get discouraged about the discrepancy between my Ideal Self and Actual Self! Today, I want to talk about how to reconcile the difference between Ideal You and Actual You- and the work of grace that allows God’s purpose to be brought about in that tension.
Assignments are roles, tasks, projects, jobs, work...that are given to us for a portion of time. While our identity as a redeemed Christ follower and the lifelong calling he places on us, do not end, assignments do. Many times our assignments are like puzzle pieces. We don’t always know how it all fits together, but in time we see how it contributed to the whole plan.
I like the way O.S. Guinness phrases it when he says calling is the fusion of being and becoming. God in His grace is always at work in us. This requires a complete surrender, not only of our strengths, but also our weaknesses. Today we will learn about finding your calling in the place where your talents and burdens collide.
I have a theory about why we are susceptible to an identity crisis and I believe it’s because we put calling and duty before identity. In other words we make our identity to be about what we do rather than who we are. The result puts us in a tailspin when our circumstances change or a role ends. I want to start a 3 part series on Identity, Calling, and Assignment. Today's episode establishes the foundation of identity as the first step and the very core in being who God created us to be.
I saw a quote that hits the nail on the head as far as what we are talking about and it’s this: “If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” That struck a chord with me because I read that just as I was starting a new job. I was reminded again of how important it is to have courage in the transitions of life.
God cares too much for us to let us struggle forever with misconceptions about His salvation. His love and grace are ongoing ministries in our lives. Maybe you have felt the internal angst of inaccurate beliefs that need to be released. As I share about my experience in this episode, I pray that you grasp the great hope of His unconditional acceptance of you today.
One of the gifts of grace in our lives is relationships. Everyone can agree that quality relationships play an important role in having an abundant life. But the way in which those connections are built can vary quite a bit from person to person. Becoming aware of your style in relating to others can go a long way in strengthening the bond you have with those you are closest to and forming new ones. It can also help you understand people that relate differently than you do.
So much of maturing as a person has to do with getting rid of limiting beliefs and damaging judgments that we don’t even realize have been holding us back. As many of us are considering new goals right now, I think it is a good time to address “secret rules”. Through past experiences and personality flaws, we may be unaware that these slogans we live by internally are hidden in the heart of our being and have never been consciously evaluated by the standard of truth. Depending on the Lord in His grace to root out our secret rules will allow us to embrace God’s way in the everyday.
Today we are going to delve into setting goals while looking through the lens of our focus word for the new year that addresses the needs of our mind, body and spirit, while pursuing our vision with godly ambition.
It's time to welcome a new year and hope springs anew as we seek to fulfill our purpose. When we determine to have Godly ambition, we have a lens for seeing the path the Lord has for us. Setting small goals along the way with a God-given focus allows us to keep bringing him glory as the vision becomes reality because He is setting the pace on our path.
Going deeper in the themes of Advent has been the shining light I desperately needed this Christmas. God's faithfulness is a blessing when we reflect on Jesus' first coming and breathes hope into our hearts as we anticipate His second coming.
Hope, gratitude, joy, peace, wonder, and love...may have been in the shadows for a while and it’s time for them to take center stage. Not because they are hiding, but maybe our focus has been elsewhere. It’s been easy to be distracted with everything going on in the world around us. So today we are going to talk about shining the light on these virtues, preparing our souls to be receptive, and why the time for that preparation is NOW.
Some seasons of life are easier than others. Each season has something to offer us, but we may need a much bigger measure of grace to embrace the difficult ones. In this episode, we will talk about the key to being able to live in the tension of even the most challenging of life seasons with faith and confidence rather than resentment and discontent.
Have you ever considered the truth that we are the sum of our habits? Every season of our lives is an opportunity to set a tempo for the structure of our days as we incorporate healthy habits for our mind, body, and soul. These routines, or RHYTHMS, as I prefer to call them, are the path to living our best life. In this episode, we will explore how morning, afternoon, and evening rhythms help us embrace God's way in the everyday.
If we wait until the end of the year to reflect on how we are doing with our focus, we will miss out on valuable and helpful details that are part of the process in recognizing how God is guiding us and blessing us in living out our vision. We miss out on the chance to eliminate distractions that we might not even realize are in the way if we don't take a pause in the present. So let's reflect on how our vision is shaping reality right now.
Do you need affirmation during this weird time that God's purpose has not changed? I found some great encouragement to share with you. Listen in!
When we are obedient, even if we don't feel qualified, we can be confident or assured in what the Lord is calling us to do because the results are up to Him. Where we get tripped up is thinking that the results are up to us. It's up to God to give the increase. That's where humility comes in.
We know that it is Jesus' desire to reach everyone and He teaches us to pursue those on the fringes, even if conventional wisdom does not validate the investment. It helps to remember Jesus is not conventional, but rather leaves the 99 to find the lost one and that God is not trying to teach us how to live in OUR kingdom. He is trying to teach us how to live in HIS.
God's grace and power is always offered to us, but we don't always place ourselves in a position to fully receive it. Today I want to share what I am learning about receiving grace to persevere and trusting God to change the "walls" or obstacles that are blocking my way into a ramp to the other side, remembering all the while that NOTHING IS WASTED in the economy of God's kingdom.
The idea of wholeness really resonates with me. Christ's absolute delight is that we connect with Him in mind, body, and spirit. In this episode we explore a frequently misunderstood saying of Jesus in hopes that it helps us more freely receive grace when we understand what Jesus really meant by being perfect like our God our Father.
Comparing ourselves to others out of our fear and insecurity is like carrying a heavy weight of defeat and discontentment. In this episode we will learn three habits that can release us from the harmful consequences of comparison and help us experience joy, gratitude and security as we embrace God's way in the everyday.
Missing out on the beauty of today is the result of wishing for the past or longing for the future. A big part of rejoicing in the day that the Lord has made is intentionally observing, being attentive, as well as seizing and savoring the moment. We esteem each day as the gift that it is. When we choose awareness over distractedness we are able to appreciate the becoming that is happening right now. The practice of living in gratitude cultivates the joy of being fully present and embracing the abundant life Christ gives us.
We all know how valuable closure is when we are ending a chapter in life and beginning a new one. Sometimes the circumstances surrounding closure are less than ideal. When we leave it up to others to give us closure, we can become disappointed when our expectations are not met. What if instead of depending on societal norms to provide us with closure, we leaned into our creative nature and generated that for ourselves? It is possible and you are capable. Listen in for the details that will empower you to create your own closure.
From time to time we all get distracted from what is most important. This happened to me a few years ago when I realized I was putting more time into entertaining my kids at Easter than making sure that they understood the spiritual significance of it. In this episode, we learn how observing the Seder meal helps us keep the main thing the main thing when it comes to celebrating Easter.
Transformation begins with dying to the old life and results in becoming new in Christ. But oftentimes we fail to acknowledge the importance of the struggle in between- the "messy middle". This episode reflects on the trial and error and the perseverance that are part of the struggle and how God's grace is in the midst of it all.
At one time or another, we all long for transformation - dramatic change. Transformation involves different stages and if we want to experience life-altering and long-lasting change, then we have to embrace all stages. In today's episode we will talk about the crucial first step of letting the old fall away so that the new has a place to live.
One way to experience less stress, more peace and more freedom in your life is to release others from your expectations and judgments. This is the principle of separate realities and the result is the miracle of grace. When we extend grace to others, we reap a blessing as well.
Even when clarity alludes us, we can still be creative within our calling and follow arrows over answers. This means we choose to live in the present and take the very next microstep on our journey, remember that faith means I can do what I am called to do even when fear is whispering in my ear. This episode describes how we are free to create without needing the clarity of every detail found in the end result because we know that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
In this episode, we finish the two part series of "How to Live with Vision" by learning about The Focus Factor. The secret to understanding how to keep your vision in the forefront of your mind is embracing the truth that your energy follows your focus. We will share three strategies that, when implemented with intention, result in vision becoming reality.
This is an exciting episode! One of my favorite things to do is to vision cast because it's such a powerful way to focus on what we genuinely want our lives to be about. It's a way to measure if we are staying true to ourselves. In this episode, we prepare to welcome the new year, but it has nothing to do with limiting and unrealistic resolutions that lead to defeat. Instead, we are going to frame everything to do with encouragement and empowerment that allows us to embrace God's way in the everyday.
One of the most important ways to conquer overwhelm is to adopt the mindset of progress over perfection. Learning "not to despise the small beginnings" is incredibly helpful because it is these microsteps that offer grace to us as we persevere in what is ours to do. In this episode, we learn how to use The Project Map as an application that allows us to embrace God's way in the everyday.
Margins are a gift of grace in an otherwise overloaded and overwhelmed life. In this episode, we discuss what margins are, why they are important and what it looks like to implement margins in our daily reality. By living in the restorative power of margins, we increase our capacity to enjoy the best instead of just trying to squeeze in the good.
Sometimes The Grace Narrative is inspired by some really profound thoughts that really me up at the soul level. And, other times, the thoughts are so simple and practical, it seems crazy that I never understood them before. But, however profound or practical, it always speaks of restoration. It always follows the pattern of letting go of what I was never meant to be and embracing who I am created to be. Un-becoming so that I can become. And that is not unique to me. That challenge is something we all come face to face with along the way.
Song: Ikson - New Day (Vlog No Copyright Music)
Music provided by Vlog No Copyright Music.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/cVA-9JHwbFY